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Hi there, We have a VW Tiguan 2.0TDI manual which weighs 2170KG, and has 150bhp. It has a kerbweight of 1605kg leaving the recommended 85% calculation of 1364Kg I was wondering if anyone else has the same vehicle, and if so what are they towing comfortably? We're looking at a 5 or 6 berth with average MTPLM of around 1500KG

Hi and apologies to a question which i will know has been asked many times but want to check, with it being more specific to my own situation I'm thinking of purchasing a caravan soon - 2016 ELDDIS XPLORE 586, which has the following spec; 6 berth, Single axle Mass in Running Order (Kg) - 1155 Maximum Technical Permissible Laden Mass (Kg) - 1350 Internal Length (metres) - 5. 7 Shipping Length (metres) - 7. 29 Width (metres) - 2. 18 My towcar is a 2016 Skoda Octavia Estate SE Technology 2. 0 TDi (150ps), with the following spec; Max Permissable Mass 1924kg Mass in service (kerbweight) 1354kg Max Technically permissable towed Mass (braked) 1600kg My question is, I'm aware there is a ADVISED GUIDELINE that newbie's should try not to exceed 85% of the kerbweight of the car for the caravan's MTPLM (1151kg, in this case). ..BUT, skoda's kerbweight includes 75kg for the driver - I will be travelling with my wife and 2 kids (both under 5) with a combined weight of 93kg. ..i will also generally be fully laden with luggage in the boot and luggage in the top-box. ..all-in, i'd guesstimate i'll have an additional 300kg (including the passengers and luggage) each time. ..this brings the car's gross weight to 1654kg and 85% of this now becomes 1406kg. ..with he caravan MTPLM being 1350kg, this would give me a new ratio of 82% car grossweight:caravan MTPLM. ..is this now more advisable/safer for me, or are the guidelines based strictly on the original kerbweight, without any additional weights added? I also understand that weight displacement within the caravan is of paramount importance (i. e placing heavier weight low down and over axle area etc). I'm likely complicating things but the caravan is definitely the model we want and i was hoping to avoid having to change my car, as I only recently purchased it (without any future thoughts of towing caravans!)...above all and especially with travelling with my family, I just want to ensure i'm doing things as safely as reasonably practicable and thought this was the best place to get answers, from experienced caravanners. I thank you in advance

Hi everyone I'm in need of a little help. I'm very new to this and have been researching all the acronyms when discussion ratios of kerb-weight to towing weight etc, but I've come to a major question. .. (We don't currently have a caravan (and only a ford fiesta) so we're trying to look at matching a 2-berth caravan and a small panel van, lets say, a Renault Kangoo 1. 5 dCi . They give a kerb weight of around 1100kg for the Kangoo, and a maximum weight loaded of 1600kg. Now, I understand I can safely tow 85% of the kerb weight. .. so, 935kgs of caravan.) So my question is. .. if we want to get a caravan which weighs more than 935kg, surely all we have to do increase the weight of the panel van. So, if we increase the weight of the panel van to 1500kg by packing all the stuff into the van then we could safely tow 1275kg of caravan? Am I correct in thinking this? Your expertise would be greatly appreciated. Very best wishes from the newbies Emily and David

At Grandpa Steve's request I am repeating details that I have already posted in another thread. At the same time I have added a couple of additional comments: Mass in service, also known as mass in running order, is defined in the respective EU directive as the weight of the vehicle with a 90% full fuel tank and a 75kg allowance for the driver and sundry items. It also applies to the vehicle in base form with the minimum of factory fitted options applicable to the market where it is sold. It is therefore generally lower than any figure that a weighbridge would come up with. Kerbweight according to UK legislation is without the driver, but with a full fuel tank. The definition is otherwise very vague as it was created at a time when things were not as standardised as today. Unladen weight, by UK law, is a 'dry' weight without any fluids such as fuel. The latest EU directive 1230/2012/EC has added a further term, 'actual mass of the vehicle', to allow for the factory fitted options not included in mass in running order. It is therefore the most representative figure of all. However, there are no provisions for including the actual mass of the vehicle in the V5c document. If at all, it will be found as Item 13. 2 in the Certificate of Conformity that was issued withe the vehicle. Neither kerbweight nor unladen weight are documented anywhere.

Hello! I am new to the world of caravans having recently taken the plunge and bought a Quasar 546. I did a lot of research into weights etc so I understand the importance of the 85% guidelines. We also hunted for the lightest 6 berth we could find that suited our family needs. The 546 comes in at MTPLM 1395 kg according to the door plate. Our tow car will be a Kia Carens 1. 7 crdi 3 2014 model and I was convinced that I had read that the kerb weight was 1657 kg but i must have got muddled as I have since discovered from online specifications that the minimum kerb weight is 1591 kg and maximum 1700kg. At the lower kerb weight I am heading towards 88% ratio. Having never towed before I am slightly concerned that my car is going to be underpowered and under weight guidelines. I am going on the Caravan Club towing course so I hope I will get a better understanding of weights, nose weights etc but I would be grateful for any advice from more experienced towers. Thanks!

Hi to you all out there. How much importance do you place in knowing the kerbweight of your tow-vehicle and the MiRO of your caravan?. Do you take your weights from the manufacturers documentation or from a Third Party Data base?. Do you think that your outfit would stand scrutiny by VOSA?. Have you had your outfit on a weighbridge and was it a VOSA specification Dynamic Axle Weighbridge?. Have you established that the kerbweight that you were given is correct & factual by putting yourself and the tow-vehicle onto a weighbridge of any kind with 90% fuel & 7kgs of luggage, then adjusting for your own weight differential? from the specified 68kg driver allowance?. Do you own or have access to borrowing a noseweight gauge that you can take with you when out with your caravan?.